Meanwhile, flamboyant property developer Terry Serepisos is poised to retain control of Wellington Phoenix, but advertising guru John Singleton is believed to have backed away from a takeover of Central Coast Mariners.
For months the financial predicament of the high-profile Serepisos has been headline news in his home town but, after a meeting with Football Federation Australia officials in Sydney on Monday, it seems certain he will continue to bankroll the club.
It's believed Serepisos - labouring under a debt of around $NZ200 million ($160.3 million) - has been able to refinance through Asian lenders, and is keen to breathe fresh life into the club.
At present, Wellington have just 17 contracted players, but it's likely the club will add more. Young triallists Cory Chettleburgh [uncontracted] and Bryan Bran [Oakleigh Cannons], and promising midfielder Peter Triantis [Sydney Olympic], are all in the mix - as soon as the necessary guarantees are in place by the end of this week. The Phoenix then hope to add an experienced foreign striker as their 20th player, in time for the season opener against Gold Coast United on October 9.
Read more: https://www.smh.com.au/sport/a-league/culina-out-for-year-but-striker-still-jets-priority-20110920-1kjk4.html#ixzz1YVY5uLP6